So, with a trembling voice, he asked, "You... don't hate me?"
Astrid shook his head. "Why should I? You're as much a victim here as my mother. Besides, you were not even an adult yet when all that happened. It's natural for you to not know what was happening. Especially when you're intentionally kept in the dark.
If I hated you when you didn't do anything wrong, what would that make me? And as I've said, I quite like you."
When Casey heard Astrid's answer, he was finally convinced that what he heard the first time was not just his illusion. He blinked, and he felt something fell from his eyes down to his cheeks. When he raised his hand to his cheek, the wet feeling could be clearly felt.
He was crying.
Upon that realization, he quickly wiped away the tears that had already fallen. "Sorry, letting you see a grown man cry like this."
Astrid stared at Casey. The other person was wiping away tears that he likely hadn't even realized had fallen. Seeing him like that, Astrid felt a twinge in his heart. He suddenly remembered what his mother had said about Casey before. That the other was a sweet and soft-hearted kid. Two decades later, that probably still hadn't changed.
Astrid reached out his hand over the table and held Casey's hand that was placed there. "No need to apologize. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a grown man crying."
Casey finally couldn't help but chuckle hearing that. Then he looked at the fair, slender hand on top of his. He put his other hand on top of that hand.
Thinking that he couldn't even tell anyone about how he had nephews who were a talented actor, and a genius Mecha pilot, the anger in his heart surged once again.
This was all because of those damn Lancasters! Just when would they leave their family alone?
Then that anger quickly shifted to the duke. Instead of solving the problem, he was much more interested in tending their manors' gardens. He had two decades to do something, and yet he didn't. Did the other not even think of recognizing any possible children of Emmy in the future?
Casey felt his blood-pressure rising just thinking of that. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He didn't want to show an angry expression in front of Astrid.
He smiled and responded to what Astrid said earlier, "Of course I will not let anyone see me."
Astrid nodded. Then he suddenly remembered what his mother had told him when he called her earlier. About when if Casey asked to meet her. He thought that was the first thing Casey would ask him. But surprisingly, the other hadn't asked him any information about his mother. Casey hadn't even asked yet how his mother had been.
He looked meaningfully at the other. Maybe Casey was just being considerate, and he didn't want to put him in a difficult situation. After all, meeting him and Reas secretly was definitely not the same as meeting their mother. The other also definitely knew that, so he was trying his best not to bring her up.
He smiled inwardly at that. He no longer hesitated and just asked, "Uncle Casey, do you want to talk to Mom?"
Casey visibly froze when he asked that question. He obviously wanted to say 'yes', but he couldn't bring himself to. So Astrid decided to make things easier for the other.
"You can use my Terminal and video call her," he said. "I'm sure she'll be more than glad to see you."